WE ARE GOD’S WORKMANSHIP
Ephesians 2:10
February 2006
Good News Christian Fellowship
BUCAS, Daraga
INTRODUCTION
Tchaikovsky labored perhaps a month toward the close of 1874 in composing his “Piano concerto in B-Flat Minor”, and its world premiere was in Boston on October 25, 1875 (Readers Digest 1973)
The “Grand Polonaise” of Frederic Chopin is among that composer-pianist’s most popular works. Chopin composed it in 1830-31.
One of my favorite hymns is the master piece of John Newton, The Amazing Grace. The line of hymn, “I once was lost and now I found, was blind but now I see”, touches my heart. The lyrics of this beautiful work of art are every bit as important as the melodies. This hymn maybe among the finest hymns he ever written.
Our very own Juan Luna was a renowned painter, for his masterpieces: Death of Cleopatra, The Blood compact and Spolarium. In 1881 , Juan Luna won the gold medal for Death of Cleopatra ( later sold for 5000 pesetas) In 1884 Spolarium was submitted by Luna to the Exposicion Nacional de Bellas Artes in 1884, where it garnered a gold medal.
Now, what if these masterpieces had never been recorded or published? What if these composers and painter just kept their masterpiece for themselves, shutting away the lyrics of the song and the beauty of the canvas?
If they had, we will never experienced the serenity of the air; the rhythmic and harmonious variations, we will never had a changed to view the awed inspiring painting in oil.
In out text in today’s sermon, Apostle Paul here is speaking about the work of God’s creation. This is not referring about the creation in Genesis 1. Paul is referring to another creation . It is not the material creation referred to in Genesis. It is a still more important creation - a spiritual creation And like an artistic genius whose joy is complete when his work is shared, our composer intends His work of art to be HEARD…. and SEEN.
CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS
We are God’s masterpiece. We are His ’poems. And the poem is something which is made, something which has been made. That’s what we are. We are made by God, created by Him. However, we are not created simply to be in display. Unlike painting that adorned the museums, we are designed for action. His plan for our lives extends beyond salvation to sanctification, beyond standing in grace to walk in good deeds. . Any good works which we might do as Christians are the works which He foreordained, which He planned and prepared in eternity past.
Spiritual birth is the point of this verse. When a man believes in Jesus Christ, God creates him in CHRIST. Apostle Paul makes it clear we are not saved by works that we do, we are saved by grace through faith alone and faith is the gift of God and the work of God. So we are altogether from start to finish as Christians. We are His created work, His wonderful new spiritual creation. The Holy Spirit is transforming us into the image of Christ.
Well maybe you will ask, what’s the point of living? What’s the point of going on? What’s the point of anything? Why do I live at all? Here what Apostle Paul is saying. The meaning of life is to be seen in the purpose of God. And the purpose of God affects the lives of everyone who is a Christian.
Brethren, rejoice and lift up our eyes to our God. We are going to be God’s temple forever in heaven. We are going to belong to Bride of Christ. We are going to be of His flesh and His bone. We are to be married to the eternal glorious Son of God.
Brethren, be of good cheer. The world is going on from day to day not by some accident. It is going on for one reason, and for one reason only and that is that God Almighty has a plan and His plan is to gather others out of this fallen sinful humanity as He has gathered you.
CREATED TO DO GOOD WORKS
God saves man for good works not by works. God fashions man and creates a masterpiece. God’s workmanship is always a work of art. The believer does not create the beauty, it is God who creates and fashion us to conform in His image. The work of art is shown, not adorned in the canvass of his life.
Note that doing good is not option for the believers; it is the very nature of the believer. If a man is created by God in Christ, the man does good works. As saints, we are what we are because of His doing. We are a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), but we are His creation. He created us in Jesus Christ. Any good works which we might do as Christians are the works which He foreordained, which He planned and prepared in eternity past. We dare not take credit for them. We are simply to “walk in them.” Good works will not save us, and neither will they be the cause for our boasting, except as we boast in the Lord.
Our salvation is totally free, absolutely accomplished by God, and open-handedly given to us. We don’t have to work for it- we can’t work for it- we can only rest and enjoy in it.
So it is therefore fitting that you and I, if we are believers, and we must become believers, that we should trust in the purpose of God and be reassured that God is carrying out all His promises, working out all His will and bringing all His children to their great destiny in Christ. We have not only Christ’s life in us as a power, and His presence with us as a person, but we have His likeness to be wrought into us. He is to be formed in us, so that His form or figure, His likeness, can be SEEN in us.
Therefore we should be ready to do good works, be careful to do good works and learn to maintain good works (Titus 3:1,8,14)
CREDIT GOES TO GOD
With all this talk of good words, it’s tempting to think our works somehow contribute to our salvation . We might claim credit for it. Let’s resist that temptation. In verses 8-9 of Ephesians 2, stresses that we could do nothing to contribute to or deserve to our re- creation. Glory and honor due His name are not to be shared with anyone. He is the Supreme glory of the universe, and as the Supreme Being, He is to receive glory- that is, all glory and praise, His Supremacy- His being God- demands it.
When we are tempted to steal the glory that belongs to Him, we need to remind ourselves: It’s all from him. Without God in us, no truly good works would be possible. Even success in our ministry is the work of God through us. We can’t claim credit to it. God is the one leading us in triumph (2 Cor. 2:14)
We are God’s workmanship, His masterpiece. As the beauty of artwork testifies to the skill of the artist, so does God’s work in us laud Him with praise and glory. It’s His work. We are quickened together with Him as He says here who once were dead in trespasses and sins. He has quickened us together with Christ. By grace we are saved and we are fitted together in the temple of God. We belong together. We are together.
CONCLUSION
My dear brothers and sisters this is God’s work. And the first application is let any one beware of damaging His church. If anyone damages His church, he will pay the price for it. Secondly, always remember works don’t contribute to our salvation, but they fulfill the reason for which we were created.
Thirdly, we should love God the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. And we should live in the light of all this purpose of God. And look forward with triumph in expectation and confirmation of it when Jesus our Lord comes back in the end of History to finish His work with a shout of triumph.
“Let us take up into our hearts these words in their Divine meaning: We are God’s workmanship. ‘Not by one act in the past, but in a continuous operation. We are created for good works, as the great means for glorifying God. The good works are prepared for each of us, that we might walk in them. Surrender to and dependence upon God’s working is our one need. Let us consider how our new creation for good works is all in Christ Jesus, and abiding in Him, believing on Him, and looking for His strength alone will become the habit of our soul. Created for good works! will reveal to us at once the Divine command and the sufficient power to live a life in good works.” (Andrew Murray, Working for God, vol ix)
In closing let me read John 15: 5, 8
